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Director - Digital Compliance
full-timeChicago$171k - $223k

Summary

Location

Chicago

Salary

$171k - $223k

Type

full-time

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About this role

Achieving our goals starts with supporting yours. Grow your career, access top-tier health and wellness benefits, build lasting connections with your team and our customers, and travel the world using our extensive route network.

Come join us to create what’s next. Let’s define tomorrow, together.

Description

Connecting People. Uniting the World. There’s never been a more exciting time to join United Airlines! As a global company that operates in hundreds of locations around the world — with millions of customers and tens of thousands of employees — we have a unique responsibility to uplift and provide opportunities in the places where we work, live and fly. We’re on a path to becoming the biggest and airline in aviation history.

Join our Cybersecurity and Digital Risk (CDR) team to help lead the industry in cyber safety, security and resilience. United's CDR team plays a critical role in protecting our operations by enabling secure and resilient systems, managing threats and vulnerabilities and ensuring swift response and recovery. Our mission is to seamlessly embed cybersecurity and digital risk management into every aspect of our business. We help drive progress and growth through trusted digital solutions, safeguarding assets and empowering our team, all while promoting a cyber-safe and secure environment that supports resilient airline operations.

Job overview and responsibilities

The Director, Digital Compliance is accountable for defining, operating, and continuously maturing United’s global digital compliance programs. This role owns strategy, operating model, and execution of compliance across Digital Technology, ensuring regulatory, statutory, and contractual obligations are met in a way that enables the business, scales globally, and integrates seamlessly into how technology and operations function.

This leader moves beyond point-in-time audits to build durable, outcome-driven compliance programs, translating regulatory expectations into clear standards, controls, processes, and metrics that are embedded into daily operations. The Director partners closely with Cybersecurity, Legal, Privacy, Digital Technology, and business leaders to proactively manage compliance risk while supporting speed, reliability, and innovation.

Digital Compliance Program Leadership

 

  • Define and operate United’s global digital compliance programs, including SOX ITGC, PCI DSS, privacy-related obligations, and other regulatory or contractual requirements.
  • Establish the compliance operating model, including governance, standards, roles and responsibilities, escalation paths, and decision frameworks.
  • Translate regulatory and policy requirements into practical, technology-aligned control expectations that can be consistently executed across teams and platforms.

     

Program Execution & Oversight

  • Own the end-to-end lifecycle of digital compliance programs: planning, implementation, ongoing operation, measurement, and continuous improvement.
  • Ensure compliance activities are embedded into technology delivery, operations, and supplier management — not treated as stand-alone exercises.
  • Oversee remediation strategy and prioritization, ensuring issues are addressed in alignment with business risk, impact, and operational realities.

 

Assurance, Testing & External Validation

  • Direct internal and external assurance activities (e.g., audits, certifications, assessments) as validation mechanisms for program effectiveness.
  • Ensure testing and evidence collection are efficient, repeatable, and aligned to the underlying control intent.
  • Act as the primary point of accountability for successful certifications and regulatory outcomes, while minimizing disruption to delivery teams.

 

Risk & Decision Support

  • Partner across Cybersecurity and Digital Risk, Privacy, Legal, and Enterprise Risk teams to identify, assess, and manage compliance-related risks.
  • Interpret patterns of noncompliance to inform systemic improvements rather than isolated fixes.
  • Provide leadership with clear insights into compliance posture, trends, and risk-based recommendations.

 

Cross-Functional Partnership

  • Work closely with Digital Technology, product teams, and business leaders to operationalize compliance requirements at scale.
  • Enable teams with clear guidance, playbooks, and tooling to meet compliance obligations efficiently.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor, helping stakeholders navigate regulatory complexity without unnecessary friction.

 

Continuous Improvement & Modernization

  • Drive ongoing improvement of digital compliance processes, controls, and tooling.
  • Leverage automation, standardization, and data-driven metrics to improve efficiency and transparency.
  • Monitor regulatory changes and evolving expectations; proactively adapt programs to remain current and effective.

 

People Leadership

  • Lead, coach, and develop high-performing compliance professionals.
  • Build a culture focused on ownership, accountability, pragmatism, and continuous improvement.

This position is remote and would require approximately 25-30% travel.

Qualifications

Qualifications

Required:

·       Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Risk Management, or related field.

·       8+ years of experience in digital compliance, cybersecurity risk, or governance functions

·       At least 2 years leading teams

·       Demonstrated experience building and operating enterprise compliance programs (not just performing audits).

·       Strong understanding of security and technology control frameworks and how they apply in large, complex environments.

·       Proven ability to communicate effectively with executives, technical teams, and business leaders.

·       Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship

·       Successful completion of interview required to meet job qualification

Preferred:

·       Master's degree

·       Certifications such as CISA, CRISC, CISSP, or CISM

·       Experience modernizing compliance through automation and integrated GRC tooling.

·       Background working in regulated or large-scale enterprise environments


The base pay range for this role is $171,475.00 to $223,246.00.
The base salary range/hourly rate listed is dependent on job-related, factors such as experience, education, and skills. This position is also eligible for bonus and/or long-term incentive compensation awards.

You may be eligible for the following competitive benefits: medical, dental, vision, life, accident & disability, parental leave, employee assistance program, commuter, paid holidays, paid time off, 401(k) and flight privileges.

United Airlines is an equal opportunity employer. United Airlines recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, age, veteran status and other protected status as required by applicable law. Equal Opportunity Employer - Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled/LGBT.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions. Please contact [email protected] to request accommodation.

Other facts

Tech stack
Digital Compliance,Cybersecurity,Risk Management,Governance,Compliance Programs,Audits,Regulatory Requirements,Team Leadership,Communication,Automation,Data-Driven Metrics,Continuous Improvement,Stakeholder Engagement,Operational Excellence,Technology Alignment,Problem Solving

About United Airlines

This is the story of airline that leads the industry from ground to clouds. Our global cast of over 100,000+ hero characters are each on a journey to be a force for good for our customers, the planet and each other. Come be part of this story.

Team size: 10,001+ employees
LinkedIn: Visit
Industry: Airlines and Aviation

What you'll do

  • The Director, Digital Compliance is responsible for defining and operating United’s global digital compliance programs, ensuring regulatory obligations are met while enabling business growth. This role involves building outcome-driven compliance programs and partnering with various teams to manage compliance risks effectively.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does United Airlines pay for a Director - Digital Compliance?

United Airlines offers a competitive compensation package for the Director - Digital Compliance role. The salary range is USD 171k - 223k per year. Apply through Clera to learn more about the full compensation details.

What does a Director - Digital Compliance do at United Airlines?

As a Director - Digital Compliance at United Airlines, you will: the Director, Digital Compliance is responsible for defining and operating United’s global digital compliance programs, ensuring regulatory obligations are met while enabling business growth. This role involves building outcome-driven compliance programs and partnering with various teams to manage compliance risks effectively..

Why join United Airlines as a Director - Digital Compliance?

United Airlines is a leading Airlines and Aviation company. The Director - Digital Compliance role offers competitive compensation.

Is the Director - Digital Compliance position at United Airlines remote?

The Director - Digital Compliance position at United Airlines is based in Chicago, United States. Contact the company through Clera for specific work arrangement details.

How do I apply for the Director - Digital Compliance position at United Airlines?

You can apply for the Director - Digital Compliance position at United Airlines directly through Clera. Click the "Apply Now" button above to start your application. Clera's AI-powered platform will help match your profile with this opportunity and guide you through the application process. You can also learn more about United Airlines on their website.